Both the power play and penalty kill let down the Blue Jackets in a blowout loss in Pittsburgh before the holiday break.
The Blue Jackets came into Monday night's game at Pittsburgh with their chance to win their fourth in a row for the first time all season. It would have brought them to within single digits of the last wild card spot.
They failed.
As it has been for much of this season, the Jackets seem to take a step back for every step forward. The Penguins, without Sidney Crosby, withstood a solid start by the road team and prevailed rather easily, winning this one 5-2.